Elf Bar EV5000 Review: A New Approach to Disposable Vapes

Last week, I reviewed the Elf Bar AF5000. The AF5000 is a device that truly stretches the definition of what we think of as a disposable vape, because it has both a 10 ml e-liquid reservoir and a 2 ml tank in the same device. Although the AF5000 holds 10 ml of vape juice, you’re not vaping from the reservoir – you’re vaping from the 2 ml tank. Therefore, the Elf Bar AF5000 doesn’t violate the TPD and is completely legal in the UK. It’s a clever idea – and Elf Bar isn’t finished.

Today, I’ve got the new Elf Bar EV5000 to review. This is yet another completely unique take on the disposable vape paradigm because it isn’t a device that you simply throw away when it’s empty. Instead, you can refill the device’s tank as many times as you like until you’re no longer happy with the flavour. According to Elf Bar, the EV5000 lasts up to 5,000 puffs before it requires replacement, but that’s entirely dependent on how you vape.

Clearly, Elf Bar has reached the point where they’re throwing many different things against the wall to see what sticks. With the upcoming ban on disposable vapes, traditional disposables have just about reached the end of the line in the UK. It’s difficult to say what the people who are currently using disposables will start buying at that point, but Elf Bar definitely wants to make sure that whatever it is will say “Elf Bar” on the box.

So, how will the public react to the idea of a refillable disposable vape? In this review, I’ll try to give you an idea.

How Much Does the Elf Bar EV5000 Cost?

The Elf Bar EV5000 costs £12.99 and includes the device along with a bottle of Elfliq e-liquid in the flavour of your choice. A total of 10 flavours are available at the time of writing. Each Elf Bar EV5000 device is colour-coded to match the flavour of the e-liquid included with it. Since you’ll be filling the device yourself, though, you’re free to use whatever vape juice you like.

Elf Bar EV5000: Features and Specifications

Let’s begin with an overview of the Elf Bar EV5000’s features and a brief explanation of what this device is all about.

• The Elf Bar EV5000 is a refillable disposable vape. It ships with an empty tank and a bottle of e-liquid, and you fill the device yourself. The pod isn’t replaceable. You can refill the device as many times as you like, and you’ll dispose of it when you’re no longer happy with the flavour.
• The battery capacity is 650 mAh. It’s rechargeable via USB-C.
• The capacity of the tank is 2 ml.
• The device includes a 10 ml bottle of nicotine salt e-liquid with a strength of 20 mg/ml.
• The Elf Bar EV5000 uses a QUAQ mesh coil, which is the same coil that you can find in recent Elf Bar and Lost Mary devices like the Lost Mary BM600S. It’s an impressive coil that produces large plumes of vapour on demand.

How to Use the Elf Bar EV5000

If you’ve ever used a refillable pod system before, you’ll be right at home with the Elf Bar EV5000. If you’re more accustomed to disposable vapes, though, a brief introduction might be in order. Here’s how to use the Elf Bar EV5000.

• Remove the device from its package. Remove the plug from the mouthpiece and remove the sticker covering the device’s bottom airflow hole. Discard both of those items.
• Remove the silicone stopper on the side of the tank to open the filling port. Add e-liquid to the tank through the filling port and replace the stopper.
• Place the device upright on a table or other flat surface for at least five minutes and wait for the e-liquid to fully absorb into the coil.
• Vape by puffing on the device’s mouthpiece.
• If the Elf Bar EV5000’s indicator light blinks when you puff on the device, it means that the battery is dead. Connect the device to your computer with a USB-C cable to charge the battery.

How Long Does the Elf Bar EV5000 Last?

According to Elf Bar, the EV5000 lasts about 5,000 puffs before it requires replacement. In other words, that’s about how many puffs you’ll get out of the included bottle of e-liquid. In truth, though, it’s entirely possible to use the device even longer than that – it’s just a matter of how long you’re happy with the flavour. Elfliq e-liquids are fairly coil friendly, and you can get even better coil life if you use an e-liquid that’s unsweetened.

In fact, there’s no reason why you can’t continue using the same device for weeks if you substitute the included bottle of Elfliq with a more coil-friendly e-liquid such as Vsavi Platinum e-liquid. If you were to do that, though, you might be better off buying a standard pod system instead – but I’ll get to that shortly.

What Are the Best Elf Bar EV5000 Flavours?

The Elf Bar EV5000 has a selection of 10 flavours at launch, and it’s likely that more flavours will eventually reach the market if this device is successful. The initial range of flavours includes several of Elf Bar’s most popular creations, so you’ll probably find your favourite if you’re a big Elf Bar fan. Here are my three favourites.

• Blueberry Sour Raspberry: This one tastes a bit like one of those berry-flavoured candies with a dusting of sour powder on the outside.
• Blue Razz Lemonade: Here’s another one that melds notes of sweet and sour. A bold blue raspberry note provides an authentic “slush” flavour that melds nicely with the tart lemonade base.
• Spearmint: This is the option that you’ll want to choose if you’re a fan of traditional flavour profiles that aren’t too sweet. The smooth spearmint base gives this one a slightly different flavour compared to most menthol e-liquids, which usually have peppermint bases.

Elf Bar EV5000 Review: The Bottom Line

If you’re a fan of disposable vapes in general – and Elf Bars in particular – there’s a good chance that you’re curious about both the Elf Bar EV5000 and the Elf Bar AF5000. Here’s my assessment of the two devices.

• Overall, the Elf Bar AF5000 is definitely the more innovative of the two products. No one has ever tried to make a self-refilling disposable vape before to my knowledge, and I think that renaming the AF5000 and calling it a self-refilling pod system instead would probably be enough to allow it to remain on the market after the ban on disposable vapes takes place. We’ll see.
• On the other hand, the Elf Bar EV5000 is probably the more economical of the two devices because there’s nothing stopping you from buying your own e-liquid and continuing to refill the device after the included e-liquid bottle is empty. The flavour quality is the only limiting factor; as long as you’re happy with the experience, there’s no need to replace the device. Also, since the Elf Bar EV5000 doesn’t have the built-in e-liquid reservoir of the AF5000, it’s smaller and lighter.

The Elf Bar EV5000 is small, economical and easy to use, but I do question how successful it’s going to be with the target market. After all, the device basically amounts to a refillable pod system with a pod that you can’t replace. Also, Elfliq e-liquid isn’t exclusive to this device; you can buy it and use it with any device. With those things in mind, it may make more sense to buy a device with a replaceable pod like the Innokin Arcfire – one of the best vapes on the market today – and a bottle of Elfliq. You’ll only pay a few pounds more, and you’ll have a device that you won’t need to throw away when the coil gets old. If you’re going to be filling your own device either way, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for the pod to be a non-replaceable component.

The bottom line is that I’m not really sure if the EV5000 is going to be the way forward for Elf Bar once the ban on disposables takes hold. Although I believe that it can probably remain on the market if Elf Bar simply calls it a pod system rather than a disposable vape, it’s difficult to imagine many people wanting to buy a device that lacks the main selling points of both disposable vapes and pod systems.